The Trinidad and Tobago House of Representatives witnessed a tumultuous session during Private Members’ Day on January 23, with opposition and government members engaging in fierce exchanges over mass terminations and their socioeconomic consequences.
Laventille West MP Kareem Marcelle introduced a resolution highlighting the severe impact of widespread contract non-renewals across public bodies and state agencies. The motion emphasized that vulnerable communities—including single mothers, female-headed households, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities—are experiencing disproportionate effects, leading to increased food insecurity, school absenteeism, mental health challenges, and social exclusion risks.
Marcelle accused the governing United National Congress (UNC) of administering through ‘fear, evil, hate, and intimidation,’ claiming that post-election policies have targeted citizens who previously applied for positions between 2015-2025. He referenced the tragic case of Richard Cooper, who was found unresponsive after being laid off, as emblematic of the human cost of these actions.
Government members repeatedly challenged the relevance of Marcelle’s statements, with Speaker Jagdeo Singh cautioning against hyperbolic rhetoric. The opposition maintained that the terminations represent an unjust ‘war against the most vulnerable.’
Couva South MP Barry Padarath countered that the motion rested on false premises, asserting that the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) administration had left a legacy of ‘debt and destruction.’ He defended the government’s actions as necessary to eliminate ‘improper, unsustainable, unlawful practices’ including ghost rentals, leases, and Cabinet notes from the previous decade.
St Ann’s East MP Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly delivered an emotional address, comparing the current economic crisis to the 1980s era that produced ‘barrel children.’ She highlighted that over 40,000 terminations—affecting more than 20,000 vulnerable women with school-aged children—have created an education emergency with approximately 40,000 children at risk of dropping out. She criticized the government’s inadequate response compared to COVID-19 relief measures.
La Brea MP Clyde Elder accused the opposition of hypocrisy, recalling PNM-era closures of Petrotrin, GHRS, and the Tourism Development Company. He presented data showing significant declines in social programs under the previous administration, including dramatic reductions in GATE recipients (from 59,605 to 15,491), HYPE participants (771 to 264), and HELP loans (2,023 to 612).
The session concluded without resolution, adjourning to a future date as both sides remained deeply divided on addressing the nation’s growing socioeconomic challenges.